The film Mandela started to be shown in all cinemas in South Africa on Thursday, attracting many audiences regardless of their races or colors.

Residents flooded into the cinemas as the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, was to be screened in the largest city of Johannesburg.

"Many citizens began to contact us for making the ticket bookings several days ago," the manager of Rosebank cinema Bottumlo told Xinhua.

"As it is the first day of the national release of the film, we would have 4 screens today," said the manager.

The film was produced on the basis of Mandela's autobiographic book "Long Walk to Freedom."

In the film, British actor Idris Elba played Mandela, while British actress Naomi Harris performed Mandela's first wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as the first lady of South Africa.

During more than two hours' screening, the audience were deeply moved by Mandela's passion, bitterness and insistence in seeking the equity and freedom for the country.

He served 27 years in prison during his anti-apartheid struggle.

"The film Mandela event would last 10 days or so, making more youths know about him and promoting the social cohesion," said Bottumlo.

On Wednesday, the film producer Anata Singh said to media that the movie had been 25 years in the making, hoping it would be worth the wait.

Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 10, the movie received an unprecedented standing ovation.

The film is expected to be released in France and the U.S. next month.

Mandela became the first democratically-elected president in 1994 as the apartheid ended, having an honor of the state father in South Africa.

The 95-year-old former president is still fighting his recurring lung infection at his home in Johannesburg after being discharged from hospital in Pretoria on Sept. 1. Endi

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